10-year-old escapes kidnapper by jumping out of moving van in Mumbai

Showing a remarkable presence of mind and courage, a 10-year-old girl today thwarted a kidnapping attempt by jumping out of a moving van.

The Mumbai police later nabbed a 38-year-old man, whose a driver by profession.

According to Dongri police in south Mumbai, the girl (name not disclosed) was waiting for her school van outside her house in Char-nal area this morning when Raju Mehboob Khan drove to the spot in an Omni, and asked her to get in.

Since it was not her usual school van, the girl initially refused, but got in after being told that it was a substitute vehicle as the regular van had broken down. The girl then realised something was wrong when Khan took a wrong turn.

"Getting suspicious, the girl jumped out," said a police officer.

As bystanders came to her help, a car driver gave chase until Khna hit the CST-Chembur Freeway, and then alerted the Police Control, giving them the van's registration number.

Police found the van abandoned in Chembur.

"In the van we found a visiting card and when we dialled the number, a lady, the owner, answered and confirmed that it was her van and it was with the her driver," said the officer.

A police team went to her house and asked her to summon Khan. He arrived and was arrested after the girl identified him.

Khan has been booked for kidnapping and molestation, as well as under the `Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act'.